Thomas left her cell phone, money and kids on the bus. Luckily, a zoo employee gave her a Metro ticket and she took it back to Germantown.

On Wednesday, the principal of Clopper Mill Elementary offered an apology. She said the school will investigate the incident. But she said the teacher claims Thomas went missing for half an hour, they went looking for her and couldn’t find her.

“That should have not happened and in hindsight I wish I had been contacted,” said Stephanie Curry, principal of Clopper Mill Elementary.